Tag: Schoffel

This has been probably the hardest blog post.. trying to string the words together has been difficult and I can’t believe in 2017 it’s still something no one can talk about. Mental health will have affected nearly everyone over their life span, some are just unlucky that they deal with it a lot younger than others. My personally experience with mental heath has been a battle I fight everyday since I was around 13. (But let’s not get into that!)

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Farmers around the world have been dealing with mental heath issues, such as depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts so why aren’t we doing anything to help? The financial struggle for some farmers is enough to pack it all in after years of hard work.

Lots of farmers feel that there isn’t anyone to talk to and/or no one will understand, as farmers do have a lot of people depending on them, especially kids who live on the farm at home with parents getting a bit older and not being able to do as much as they used too.

Over the last few years mental health has been something which is getting easier to talk about and get support for, but for a lot of people, young or old it’s not enough. Action needs to be taken. I would like some of my followers and lovely reads to just take the time and reach out to a friend that is maybe having a bad time at the moment and help them.

I’m offering myself to anyone who needs help or just a chat to make the day easier! My inbox will be checked my regularly and I will always reply, no matter what time or day.

I am also raising money for a mental health charity called Visyon which is based in Cheshire.

So my lovelies, today I completed my first morning and evening shift milking! I’ve never milked before so it was a bit scary for me, coming from a beef background I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into! But i can actually say it was such a good experience!

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My morning started with pushing the cows up into the collecting yard, then running them into the parlour. Once in, the cows udders were cleaned and the unit was put on. ( I never realised how heavy they are!) when the cow was dry, the unit would come off and clean the udders again and then ran through a foot bath which helps prevent lameness.

After being kicked, pooped and wee’ed on, the morning was done and I spend most of the day in front of the telly ( after I helped feed the pigs )

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The evening shift when a lot bette with no injuries and no mess ( well, no mess on me anyways!) the cows did the same as the morning and it perfect!

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Milk from cows on antibiotics was milked from the cow into a different tank and was thrown straight down the drains! I can’t stress this enough; the milk is never consumed by humans! Watching the milk been thrown away it really makes you think about a lot of dairy farms that are going out of business because of the supermarkets and it’s poor pay.

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The whole day was so enjoyable and I would encourage everyone who wants to give it a go, to do it! You’ll love it!

As we all know getting into farming is an impossible task, especially when you’re not from a farming background. I’ve grown up in Bedfordshire, quite town-like, not much farm land, but I have family who live in north Wales, who have their own farm and I’ve always been up to help, during lambing, TB testing and everything in between. I’m very hands on and have been since I was very young ( I lambed my first ewe on my own when I was 5) so I’m not fussy about getting down and dirty. Since I’ve been able to talk, I’ve always wanted to do something with animals and farming, once I left middle school, I started my high school, which had a farm on site and we was able to take it as a option. Most people chose art and history, I took triple farm, so I could spend most of my days there. I absolutely loved it.

For a girl to be on the farm, even only a few years ago it was very odd. All of my other classmate were boys, which meant I always had to work harder and prove myself, which i did, time and time again. From difficult lambing, ill piglets, aggressive chickens, everything. Being only 14 and knowing what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, came when I was in those lessons.

Once I finished school, I went on and did agriculture at college which was really eye-opening, more girls in my class made it so much better (still there was only 7 of us), I was still very hands on and work harder on the academic side as I wasn’t very good at that. Over the 2 years at college, I learnt so much which then encouraged me to apply for university. Getting into uni, showed me the if you apply yourself and something you love, you’ll receive. I work my arse off, to be in those lessons, but it was quite daunting as everyone else was from a farm and I came from a semi detached house in Bedford, which meant I had to prove myself once again, it’s hard when you feel very alone and not many people understanding why? Farming is a very alone job in itself, and I do enjoy animal company over human, but not having anyone is worst..

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I’m now moving back to uni, in the next few days, for my second year and I’m so proud of where I’ve come from. I’m happy and excited for the future

Next step; finding some land to rent/buy with my partner so I can finally live the dream. I’m so lucky to have someone who wants the same dream. Onwards and upwards my old mucker!

Since being home from university, I’ve not been able to see my partner as much as we would like. As I met him while I was up in Cheshire, being back in Bedfordshire does make things a bit harder. Luckily we’ve been able to plan a few days out and for him to meet my family.

First place we was able to go was Country File Live which takes place at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, which was amazing. Countryfile has always been an important Sunday watch in mine and his household. As soon as you enter the grounds, you’re met with 1000s of different foods, drinks, vodka and gin. Everything I love!

Countryfile Live offers lots of shops, stalls and even places to purchase a brand new car. There was lots going out throughout day, like talks from Matt and the other presenters, camera crew filming and demonstrations, like the Duck and Dog.

And there is no visit to Country File Live without going to ‘Adam’s Farm’, where livestock was kept and there was a chance to speak to REAL farmers, which I think is important to help educate the public on farms.

My partner and I also visited London, which was brilliant. Even though I live so close to London, I’ve never been! (mostly because I hate the busyness of the city and prefer the country side) We visited the Palace, Parliament, Big Ben, London Eye, Marble Arch, Tower Bridge and all the other touristy places. We walked for miles down Regent Street and of course found Barbour! Where I purchased a lovely coat in the sale!

If you are ever in London I would recommend the museums, (free of charge) Science and Natural History. They are both huge places and you could really make a day of it! The kids will also love it! Very interactive and you’ll learn a lot.. I know I did!

We walked and we walked until we couldn’t walk anymore, sleepy and tired we jumped on the train home, got ourselves a Dominos and snuggled up in bed.

For the past year I’ve been living at University in Cheshire with all the wonderful views of the countryside. Since being home and back in the city, I’ve realised I’ve lost touch with my city roots. (I’m not sure if I even had any to start with!)

Swapping my wellies for heels hasn’t been easy! I miss the days where my Le Chameau’s, some Topshop jeans, a Joules top and a Schoffel paired with a scarf was accepted as a nice ‘going out’ outfit! And trips to the pub consisted of networking, showing pictures of your tractors/livestock and everyone knew everyone. Now it’s £6 pints, a room full of people you have never seen before and a massive queue in the bathroom. When worst when visiting your local Whetherspoons and needing to actually dressing up to get in and no wellies don’t make the cut.. I’ve tried.

I guess being home isn’t all bad, I can catch up on Netflix, eat all the yummy home cooked food and see my fabulous family. (As I write this I’m binge watching Gotham) With being home it also means I see my beloved chickens!

Being home is lovely, but I can’t wait to get back to my happy place, surrounded by countryside. You can take the girl out the country, but you will never take the country out of the girl.

Next Adventure

Moving back to University on 17th of September and I’m so excited! I’ll be living in lovely Nantwich, Cheshire, surrounded by fields of sheep and dairy cows, what more could I ask for?

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Little Bit About Me

I’m Mali, 19, sheep addicted student. A fun loving, very hard working girl. You’ll always find me either in the lambing shed or in the field. I’m so lucky to have amazing people around me and help me with everything.

I will be blogging about everything from clothing and shoes to what’s going on with farming and what parts I actually understand and how it will affect young people in agriculture.